Flexible-shaft connection.



O. SPERLING.

FLEXIBLE SHAFT CONN ECTION..

APPLICATION FILED AUG.25, 19H.

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coupling ofthe nature mentioned having a v UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR ramme, on NEW Yoi'zK, N; Y.',- lissren oniior ait eo iri anzflivclg on NEW YORK, N. Y;, ,aconronar on orl nnw 1911K,

FLEXIBLE-SHAFT connnorro v.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR ISIERIJING, a citizen of Sweden, and a resident of the borough ofManhattan, inthe county, city, and State of N ew- York-,have invented ,cer -b tain new and useful Improvements in Flexible-Shaft Connections, of'which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to shaft cou lin s and it more es eciall ap ertains .P n

to means of attachment for the opposite ex-' tremities of a flexible shaft, whereby the latter can be connected with a source of" Q a rotary L power at one end, and coupled with implement at the other end. 7

One of the objects of the invention is to produce an improved attachment of' the character described enabling a flexible shaft tobe'readily coupled or uncoupled by any person of ordinary intellect, even. though inexperienced, without the use of'tools, 1n

a minimum of time,

and withthe least possible labor.

Another object is the production of coupling members of the type set forth which shall afiord to the flexiblefshaftfull protec- 1 tion against either dirt or injury, as well as'gform an appropriate reservoir for lubricant,such as will preventany excess thereof from escaping, and thus will'serve to keep thei'handles for the shaft always'cleanjand dry formanipulation.

ofthe class referred to wherein all themember'sc are concentric; and of nearly uniform dimensions, differing but slightly linsize exteriorly, so that they can beeasily handled and will offer little'obstruction when moved inclose quarters. 1 f

" Still another object is the provision of a;

tool-holding socket-permanently maintained inrotative balance with a negligible amount of friction and vibration;

"A StlllLfllIthGI' object is'todevise a cou- 'pling construction "of the kind specified which shall be simple, effective, strong, durable, easily disassembled either. for repairs. or. for replacement of worn-out .ele-

V III+III of Fig. I, viewed inithe direction binations of parts hereinafter described, del Specification of Lettersl iatent Pafentd Application fi1edliugu st25, 1917; Seiia1No. 188;137.

fined in thesubjoined claims,=andillustrated,

a in their preferred embodiments bysthe .an-n

nexed drawings, wherein like elements are designated by the samereference numerals throughout the several views. i

:In the said drawings 5.

Figure I is asectional elevation of acous pling member and shaft sleevepertaining to the power-receiving end 10f flexible: shaft equipped in: accordance :with

Figs. II andv II I areitransverse sections,- j respectively taken on the linesflII-JI and of the arrows in jeachinstance; 'I V V Fig. IV is a se' the invention; v

ct onal elevation showing a-tool socket, and coupling member at the power delivery end of the said flexible, shaftand (.7

'Figs; V,'VI, and VII are all 'cross-sections,*- severally taken from p v VI- VI, and VIIVII of Fig.'IV,'1ooking towardthe' right in the first two instances 1 and toward the *left"in the third case, as. pointed out by the three pairs of arrows in the View last named. V V

Generally described, the invention-comprisesa rotatable flexible shaft, with a relatively stationary conduit-therearound, hav ing coupling members respectively'adapted p to connect the same with a source of power A further object is to provide a coupling and; a revoluble implement at the opposite ends; receiving end include a pair of handle The coupling members at the power sleeves that are separably joined endwise Y r so a'sto extend cylindrically' over revoluble element which-is operatively connected with a' prime 'mover. Similarly, ;the coupling: members at the power delivery end comprise and extending cylindrically over a revoluble element having an operative connection with aworking tool. The'first-namedele ment is coupled up externally o'f its pair of a ail? of hollow handlesseparably united, r

members withthe source of power, while 3 the other element is 1 detachably Y connected 7 within its members in-posit'ion to deliver and transmitmotion to'the tool, The several parts involve screwethreaded connections,- lubricating chambers, anti frictio'nfl bearings, and'various other features "of conf structionhereinafter specifiedin detail. k The advantages .of the invention as here tl d e ebe ea i ed wh l' it is provided with an internal, annular features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

Referring first to Figs.

the armature shaft of a portable electric motor (not shown). The outer end of the said shaft is arranged to receive a coupling sleeve 1. Preferably, this sleeve is made to' As represented principally in Figs. 1.

and IV, the said flexible shaft may be composed of several helically close-wound wirecoils extending in opposed inclination, one around another, and respectively designated by the reference numerals 5, 5 5", 5. These wire-coils arecontained within a similarly wound, flexible, relatively stationary conduit 6.

One end of the said conduit 6 is fixed to the interior surface of'a recess 7, in a socket member 8, for instance, through the agency of solder, indicated at 9. The member 8 shoulder 10, and a second recess 11, contiguous thereto, within which is rotatably received a collar 12, preferably made integral with the previously mentioned shank 4 of the flexible shaft. The collar 12 is confined in the recess 11, between the said shoulder 10 and the outer end of a threaded plug 13, formed on a reduced portion of a handle sleeve 14, and received in a correspondingly threaded recess 15, also provided within the said socket member 8, opposite to the recess 7 first above specified.

The socket member 8 and the adjoining sleeve 14 which constitute together a pair of separable handles are knurled or otherwise roughened on its external surface, as

dis

indicated at 16 and 17 to enable the operator to couple it readily by hand with the socket member 8, that is, without the use of implements of any sort. The shank 4 is centered in this sleeve, so that the flexible shaft section 5 runs free of the annular shoulder 10. An aperture 18 is provided in one side of the member 8 for the introduction of lubricant into the intermediate recess 11, to counteract friction of the wearlng adjacent faces of the shoulder 10 and plug 13. For a like purpose, holes 19 are formed in the corresponding, side ,of the handle sleeve 14 to P8111111}, lubrication of the shank 4 therein, as well as the contacting portion I, Hand 111', the letter A denotes the driving shaft of a' prime mover,'wh1ch"may be, for instance,

surfaces of the collar 12 against the of the sleeve 1, which the handle is made to abut endwise.

I At the other or opposite. end, the conduit 6 is secured, conveniently again by solder, as at 21, in a recess 22, formed at one end of a hollow handle, 23. This handle affords a commodious chamber around the flexible shaft, as at 24, which may be filled with grease, for instance, wherewith the shaft is lubricated so as to preventchafing between its coils. I

The end of the handle 23 remote from the recess 22 isinteriorly threaded as shown at 25, to receive an exteriorlythreaded plug 26. The latter is formed with an enlarged end 27, also screw-threaded externally and fitting internal threads 28, in a coupling handle 29, which is hollow and a companion to the said handle 23.

A chuck 31, having a socket 32, is located at the opposite end of the handle 29. The socket 32 is directed outward, as indicated in Fig. IV, and may be threaded for the reception of a rotary tool, such for example as a buffer (not shown). Itis also flattened on opposite sides to form .fa-cets, as 33, whereon to apply a wrench when screwing a tool, like that mentioned, into its position in the chuck.

The said coupling handle 29 is counterbored at its opposite ends, as at 34 and 35 respectively, adjacent to the said chuck3l and to the enlarged head 27 of the plug 26. Outer races 36and 37 for bearing balls, are inserted with a force fit in the counterbores 34 and 35; "and cooperating inner races 36 and 37 are similarly pressed over a spindle 39, which projects inwardly from the chuck 31, centrally through the coupling handle 29, and also traverses the bore of the plug 26, before referred to as threadedin the adj oining end of the hollow handle 23. But, it will be noted, the spindle is not j ournaled in the plug, merely running loose through its center. Anti-friction balls 36 and 37 b are placed in the raceways respectively formed between the outer and inner races 36, 36 and 37 37 above described. The ball bearings thus formed are prevented from coming. out of their respective counterbores 34, 35 of the coupling handle by the opposed inner faces of the plug head 27 and of the chuck 31. The space intervening between the raceways' constitutes, a chamber 40, for lubricant, through which the spindle 39 passes. Axial alinement of this spindle is maintained by a collar 41, fastened to the inner end thereof, as by means of a pin 42.

exemplification of construction, the keyway 43 may be produced between an integral por-, j I

tion 39 of the spindle 39, and a companion piece 39 held thereto through the medium of-interengaging; dovetails, 39. and sim eral .displacement ofthe conjoined parts '(shown most clearly in Fig. These parts. may be brazed together withhard solder, so astoform arigid whole. The innermost surface of the said integral portion 39 is flat, as indicated at 39% in the last, namedv figure,..and constitutes a drive for a tongue or key 44, of same cross-section as. the recess. or keyway 43, within which it is received. The tongue. 44 extends outwardly from a head 45, in which thepower delivery end of theflexible, shaft is fastened. Co11ntersunk'rivets,'as.46 and, 47, are employed for securing the, tongue 44 and the proximate end of the flexible shaft. respectively in the head 45, from the opposite extremities thereof; and solder is applied in addition, so as to fill up all interstices. A

slight Vendwise play is permitted to the tongue-44 within the segmental recess43, to

shaft .within'the 'conduitfi; H

Oil-holes 48. and 49 are provided in the sides, of the hollowi-handles 23 and 29 respectively, for'the injection of the lubricant compensate for the bending of the flexible needed in the-chambers 24 and 40. The; outer, cylindrical surfacesof the said hollow handles are fluted, knurled, or otherwise roughened,-as shown at 50 and 51, to afford a proper grip for the operators hands, when manipulating or screwing these parts to the plug 26 and head 27 thereof, which holdthem in alinement. h V 7 While a, certain .preferred embodiment of this. device has beenshown and descrlbed,

it will be understood that changes in the form, arrangements, sizes, proportions and details thereof may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of-the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I de-i sire togsecure by Letters. Patent and claim 1s.:. -1.QA rotative flexibleshaft having a relatively stationary conduit therearound aflixed endwise to pairs of separable handle members,- ,c'ombined;with revoluble elements coupled up with the opposite extremities of said shaft and disposedadjacent to the ends of the outer members in said pairs.

2. A flexible shaft combined with a conduit therearound having handle members separably joined in pairs, one pair at each end of said conduit, and elements coupled up with said shaft so as to revolve therewith against the ends of the outer members in said pairs, one element receiving power from a suitable source, and the other element delivering the power transmitted thereto to an implement adapted to be heldtherein.

3. A flexible shaft with a conduit thereof separable handle around aflixed endwise to pairs of separable I V screw-connected handle membersfcombined v larly formed recesses 39, which prevent latwith revoluble. elements coupled up with said shaft and disposed adjacent .to the ends of the outer members in said pairs, one of said elements, Y being coupled externally of itsmembers with a sourceof power and receivlng IOtttlOIl therefrom, while the-other 7 one of said elements 7 within its members to the shaft and delivers is detachably connected I motion transmitted'thereto to an implement adapted to be held by the last mentionedelement and rotatively driven thereby,

4. A flexible shaft combined. with a con duit therearound affixed of separable member of one at its endsto pairs handle members, the inner pa r thereof having. an in-.

ternal shoulder coacting with a reduced portion provided on the lare outer memberv in said. pair one end of saidshaft lncludlng a cold stem having a bearing in said outer member, with its collar, between said shoul-.

der and said reduced portion, and elementsrevolubly couplejd to said shaft and disposed adjacent to the ends of the outer members in both pairs, one of said elements being,

secured to said-stem and constituting a coupling with a source of, power for transmittingmotion therefrom through the shaft. to-

anfimplement adapted to be held in the other one ofsaid elements. I

5. A flexible sha-ft combined with a conof separable handle members, member of one pair-thereof being formed athreaded reduced portion adapted to be received in saidrecess, oneiend of said shaftmcludlng; astem with a collar lodged between said shoulder and said reduced porthe opposite extremities of saidgshaft and disposed adjacent tothe ends of the outer members in said pairs, one of said elements bemg fixed tosa d stem and coupled with tion, and elements revolubly connected with asource of power so as to transmit moveent there r m t r ugh t haftto. an p em nt a apt di o' erot t vely e dy th h r one.o isa dlcl cn s j 3- '6. A fiexible's'haft combined with a conduit therearound aflixed. at; its endto pairs members, the inner member of one pair thereof being formed with a threaded recess and an internal shoul- 1 der, the outer member in the pair having a threaded reduced portion adapted to be received in said recess, one end of said shaft including a stem with a collar lodged between said shoulder and said reduced portion, and elements revolubly connected with the opposite extremities of said shaft and disposed adjacent to the ends of the outer members in said pairs, one of said elements comprising a sleeve secured to said stem and constituting a coupling between said shaft" and a source of power capable of transmitting motion through the shaft to a rotatable implement adapted to be held by the other one of said elements.

7. A flexible shaft having a conduit there around affixed at each end to a pair of separable handle members, the inner member in one pair being provided witha threaded socket while the outer member thereof has a threaded plug engaging said socket, a spin dle passing through said outer member and its said plug, elements revo-lubly coupled with said shaft and disposed each adjacent "to the ends of the outer member in either pair, one element receiving power from a suitable source, and the other element delivering the power through the shaft to animplement adapted to be held thereby, antifriction bearings confined between the inside faces of said implement-holding element and said plug, said bearings being interposed between the first-named outer member and said spindle, and a detachable connection joining the latter with the power ing from said implement-holding element through one of said outer members, a detachable connection joining the shaft to said spindle, anti-friction bearings-supporting the latter, and means for maintaining axial alinement of the-spindle in the last mentioned outer member.

9. A rotative flexible shaft having. a relatively stationary conduit therearound, a

pair of separable handle members affixed endwise to said conduit, said members including a socket piece recessed at both endsand intermediately thereof, one terminal of said condult being secured ln the recess at one end of said socket piece, the other one Copies 01 this patent may be ment and said head.

of th members" engaging' the recess in oppositeend of-the'latter; astem constitutinga prolongation of said shaft journaled' in'the last named member and formed with a collar rotatably received in:theintermediate: recess, and a coupling joining said stem to a suitable source of power. I

10. A flexible shaft with a conduit there= around, a pair of separable handle member's secured to one-terminal of said conduit, an

element adaptedto hold an implement and having a spindle journaled in'tlie outer one of said-members, means with said spindle uniting with said element to maintain both of said parts inaxial 'alinement, and a detachable connection operably spindle with saidshaft. v

11. A flexible shaft witha conduit surrounding thesame, a pair of separable handle members at one end-of said conduit, the

65. joining the V inner member of said pair-havingsockets at opposite ends w1tha chamber for lubricant therebetween, said conduit" being secured in" one of 'saidsockets, the outer member of said pair including anti-friction bearings spaced apart one from the other so as to form between them another lubrlcating chamber, a

spindle journaled in said bearings, a chuck adapted to hold a rotatableimp'lement externally of one ofsaid bearings onthe outer end of said spindle, a retainer adjacent to v the otherbearing engaging the other one of said sockets and serving as a connection between the members, and disconneotible means joining said spindle :with said shaft.

12. A rotatable flexible shaft and a relatively stationary conduit therearound, combinedwith a pair of separable handle members, the'inner one of said members being aflixed to one terminal ofsaid conduit, a rotatable element adapted to hold at one end an implement journalecl in the outer one of said members,- an internal retainer joining the latter providing a' clearance for the otherend-of said element, a head for said" shaft, and a detachable tongue and groove connection between said other end of the ele- A OSCAR A SPERLING.

Washington, D. 0.

obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 

